Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Apr 2017

1. Jeremy Corbyn pledges four new bank holidays

Jeremy Corbyn says a Labour government would create four new bank holidays. In a move that the Labour leader believes would "celebrate the national cultures of our proud nations", the holidays would be on each nation's patron saint day - St David's Day on 1 March, St Patrick's Day on 17 March, St George's Day on 23 April and St Andrew's Day on 30 November.

2. Tight security for 'wide open' French election

Voting is under way in what is being described as a 'wide open' French presidential election. The Observer says the outcome of the polling will be profoundly important not just for a divided nation but also an anxious European Union. Around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers are being deployed across the country after terror attacks rocked France in recent years.

3. Theresa May's lead is slashed after tax pledge row

The Conservatives’ lead has been nearly halved after Philip Hammond hinted that the party may abandon its pledge not to raise taxes. A poll for the Mail on Sunday put the Tories on 40%, followed by Labour on 29%. This put’s Theresa May’s party 11 points ahead, but in a poll immediately after she called the general election the Tories enjoyed a 21-point advantage.

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4. North Korea financed nuclear programme from London

North Korea used a house in the "leafy suburbs of southeast London" to help finance its nuclear weapons programme, reports The Sunday Times. The Blackheath property has been registered as the British wing of the regime’s state-controlled insurance firm, which has made tens of millions of pounds by investing and trading in currencies and property.

5. Trump visit organisers 'to keep him away from stairs'

Preparations for Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK have seen officials discuss how to keep the US President away from stairs following reports that he has a phobia of steps and slopes. According to The Sunday Times, organisers will stage events on the ground floor of buildings, and minimise Trump’s use of staircases. The Washington Post says Trump likes to avoid stairs.

6. Unprecedented police security at London Marathon

The London Marathon will have the tightest security in its 36-year history today as police aim to prevent a Westminster-style vehicle attack. Crowded areas, including the race start in Blackheath, will have concrete and metal barriers aimed at stopping a car or lorry mowing down runners and well-wishers. Meanwhile, armed police officers have been issued with "shoot-to-kill" orders.

7. UKIP promises to ban burkas and Sharia

The UKIP manifesto will include a pledge to ban burkas. Next week, leader Paul Nuttall will launch what he calls an "integration agenda", including a claim that wearing the burka and niqab in public is a security risk. Nuttall will also propose banning the use of Sharia law rules. Former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, proposed a burka ban in 2010 but the party later dropped the policy.

8. Hilda Ogden's headscarf will go under the hammer

Curlers, a headscarf and a 'pinny' belonging to Coronation Street character Hilda Ogden are set to go under the hammer. The costume items will be auctioned by the family of actress Jean Alexander. The items are evocative of the battleaxe character, who appeared on the soap between 1964 and 1987. Alexander died in October last year at the age of 90.

9. Washington says it will honour 'dumb' deal with Australia

Washington says it will honour a refugee exchange deal with Australia, despite Donald Trump's claims that it is "dumb". Mike Pence, the Vice-President, says the agreement to resettle up to 1,250 asylum seekers is being fulfilled "out of respect to the extremely important alliance" between the US and Australia. But he added that honouring the deal, made by Barack Obama, "doesn't mean that we admire it".

10. Arctic winds and icy rain to hit Britain next week

Parts of Britain will be hit with icy showers and arctic winds next week. In contrast to the high temperatures of recent weeks, a cold snap is likely to bring snow and sleet in Scotland and parts of England, the Met Office warned. A spokesman said: "Winter coats shouldn’t be put away yet. It will feel really cold in the wind."